Honda Accord Rear Brake Replacement
The Honda Accord was introduced in 1976 as a compact import. In 1990, the Accord was featured as a mid-size sedan, and in 2008 it was upgrad...
The Honda Accord was introduced in 1976 as a compact import. In 1990, the Accord was featured as a mid-size sedan, and in 2008 it was upgraded to a full-size car. While the earlier versions of the model featured rear drum brakes, the later versions offered rear disc brakes. Replacing drum brakes is a bit more complicated than replacing rear disc brakes due to all the hardware parts and springs involved. No matter which type of rear brakes you must replace on your Accord, you will need to have a degree of technical knowledge and to pay attention to detail.
Vehicle Preparation
Lift the rear axle of the Accord on a hard and flat surface only. Do not apply the parking brake. Applying the parking brake will prevent you from removing the rear drum or rear caliper. In order to prevent the Accord from slipping on the jack stands, place a wheel chock in front of one of the front tires before lifting it. Crack the rear lug nuts loose with the tire iron or a similar tool before lifting the vehicle. When replacing rear disc brakes, it's recommended to remove 1/2 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder with a brake fluid baster or a similar tool. This will allow room for the brake fluid to be purged backward in the hydraulic line when it comes time to compress the rear caliper pistons. This step is not necessary for rear drum brake replacement. Be sure you employ jack stands to support the Accord; do not use the car jack. Always keep safety in mind.
Rear Disc Brakes Replacement
Disassemble the rear wheels from the Accord, once lifted. Breaking the lug nuts loose before lifting will help you remove the lug nuts once the vehicle is in the air. Locate the caliper bolts. These bolts hold the caliper to the rear knuckle of the vehicle. Once removed, it is recommended to support the caliper to the rear suspension with a caliper hook. You can make your own hook with a wire coat hanger by bending it by hand. This will help prevent any damage from occurring to the rear brake hose attached to the caliper. Compress the piston of the caliper inward. Later models require a caliper reset tool to twist the piston inward in a clockwise fashion. Earlier versions of the model only require a 12-inch pair of channel locks or a C-clamp to compress the piston inward. The piston should be fully seated in the piston bore in order to make room for the replacement pads and rotors (if you're replacing the rotors). Remove the pads from the caliper bridge and then inspect the rotor. Any visible rust pits, scoring or grooves present on the rotors should require machining them or replacing them. To remove the rotors will require removing the caliper bridge bolts and then the bridge itself. Insert a metric screw into the threaded hole on the front hub facing of the rotor. Tighten the screw until it breaks the rotor to the hub flange connection. Use brake cleaner spray to wash the rust preventative solution from the replacement rotors. Failure to do so will result in smoking rear brakes and possible pad surface damage. Reinstall the rotors and pads by reversing the procedure. Be sure to lubricate the bridge and caliper slides, so that the pads move freely once the rear brakes are reassembled. Lastly, be sure to depress the brake pedal several times once the Accord is back on the ground. This will extend the compressed caliper pistons outward to contact the rear pads to the rotors. Once the brake pedal feels firm, the pads will be seated properly. Adjust the level of the brake fluid in the master cylinder and only add new brake fluid to top-off the reservoir.
Rear Drum Brakes Replacement
As with the rear brake rotors, use a metric screw or screws to insert into the threaded hole on the hub face of the drum. Drive the screws inward until the drum breaks free from the hub flange connection. Inspect the inside diameter of the drum. If a rust ridge is present, have the drum machined by a local auto parts store. If you've never replaced rear drum brakes before, it's best to leave one side intact to refer to for reassembly. Remove the hold-down springs and pins in order to free the shoes from the backing plate. Use needle nose pliers to remove the top and bottom return springs and the adjuster spring. Remove the rear brake adjusting assembly and then pry the rear parking brake cable-retaining clip from the parking brake shoe. This clip is shaped like a horseshoe. It's suggested to replace the rear hardware springs and clips any time you're replacing rear shoes. Lubricate the shoe contacts on the backing plate. There are three contacts per shoe on each side of the backing plate. Also, if necessary, take the adjusting assembly apart and clean off any rust present, and then re-lubricate the threads of the adjuster. Replace the new shoes by reversing the procedure. Be sure you're replacing the correct shoes in their corresponding position. Once reinstalled, adjust the brakes outward by turning the star wheel of the adjusting assembly until the brake drum fits snugly over the shoes and has a slight drag when being turned by hand.
